2025 CONFERENCE AGENDA

An honest discussion on the current state of UK higher education, focusing on the financial health and strategic priorities of universities. This session will explore what these changes mean for operators, investors, and partnerships, as well as university expectations for the private sector’s role in shaping the future of student living.

This session offers a comprehensive look at the current state of student accommodation across the UK. Bringing together key voices from across the sector, the panel will explore the major pressures of the past year- from delivery setbacks to demographic shifts- and how the sector is responding. What lessons have been learned, and what strategies are needed to remain resilient in the face of continued uncertainty?

This session will delve into the Renters Reform Bill and its implications for student accommodation providers. From the legal realities of the new regulatory landscape to how it will play out in practice, this discussion will unpack what providers need to know to remain compliant while continuing to serve students effectively. It will also explore how sector bodies successfully lobbied the government to secure exemptions for members of the Unipol Code — and what that means for the future of student housing regulation.

This session will explore how investor appetite is evolving in response to wider economic shifts, changing demand dynamics, and emerging asset classes. From macro trends to mid-market plays, the discussion will offer a look at where opportunities lie and where caution is warranted.

• Tracking macroeconomic forces- how are rental growth and interest rates shaping investment decisions?
• Navigating geopolitical risks and integrating ESG strategies- How global uncertainties and sustainability commitments are reshaping investor priorities and portfolio decisions
• Liquidity: When and how will capital re-enter the market?
• Spotlight on the mid-market- is investor focus shifting beyond prime PBSA?

As the lines between living models continue to blur, where do PBSA, co-living, and BTR complement- or compete with- each other? In this high-energy debate, opposing perspectives will go head-to-head on whether the rise of co-living and BTR poses a real threat to traditional student accommodation models. At the end of the session, the audience will have the chance to cast their vote on which side made the stronger case- and where they see the future of student living.

Moderated by : Dan Smith, Managing Director, RESI Consultancy

As the pressure mounts to deliver student accommodation that is affordable, future-proof, and financially viable, this session will explore how the sector is managing the complex realities of development today.

• Assessing the impact of rising construction costs and supply chain disruptions on project timelines and budgets
• The Building Safety Act- examining where the hold ups are and why
• Navigating planning restraints, ESG requirements, and local needs in new developments
• Refurbishment, retrofit, and refuse- what opportunity lays in older stock?

As the market continues to evolve, how will the product change with it? Hear three short, faced paced presentations on what trends are innovations are set to stand the test of times and truly change the face of student housing. The attention then turns to the audience, giving them a chance to ask the speakers questions and vote on which innovation they would but their (hypothetical) money behind.

In this interactive closing session, seasoned veterans of the student accommodation sector will offer candid reflections, hard-won lessons, and practical advice for navigating today’s complex market. With decades of experience across investment, development, operations, and partnerships, these industry heavyweights will field audience questions and share what they wish they’d known- and what they still believe matters most. No spin, just straight talk.